Grace Jones

Grace Jones 1948年生于牙買加，是一個著名的模特和歌手。她的模特生涯開始于紐約，但由于外形過于強(qiáng)悍不太合美國人的口味，轉(zhuǎn)向巴黎發(fā)展，十分成功。但她獨特的外形和狂野的作風(fēng)也受到不少人特別是同性戀者的追捧。她的電影作品不多，比較有名的包括《007》，還有《野蠻人柯南》(1984)。
 
by Greg Prato
 
Grace Jones was one of the more unforgettable characters to emerge from New York Citys hedonistic Studio 54 disco scene during the late 70s. Born May 19, 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica, Jones studied theater at Syracuse University before launching a career as a model. Jones statuesque and flamboyant look proved to be a hit in the New York City nightclub scene, which led to a recording contract with Island Records in 1977. While such disco-based albums as 1977s Portfolio, 1978s Fame, and 1979s Muse failed to break the singer commercially, Jones soon amassed a substantial following amongst gay men with her sexually charged live show, leading to her title at the time of Queen of the Gay Discos.
 
But with the dawn of the 80s came a massive anti-disco movement across the U.S., leading to Jones focusing on more new wave and experimental-based work resulting in two of her best-known and strongest releases — 1980s Warm Leatherette and 1981s Nightclubbing — both produced by the noted reggae team of Sly & Robbie (the latter release spawned one of Jones biggest hits, Pull Up to the Bumper, as well as covers of Iggy Pops Nightclubbing and the Polices Demolition Man). It was also around this time that Jones changed her look to suit the times by replacing her S&M look of the 70s with a detached, androgynous image. Jones sixth solo release overall, Living My Life, followed in 1982, while the singer took a break from recording to focus on film work and landed roles in such movies as Conan the Destroyer and the James Bond flick A View to a Kill (Jones romantic life also provided tabloid fodder at the time when she was linked with Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren).
 
Jones eventually returned back to her recording career, enlisting super-producer Trevor Horn (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) to oversee 1985s Slave to the Rhythm, which turned out to be a somewhat autobiographical work (the same year, a ten-track compilation was issued as well, Island Life). Jones penchant for working with big-name producers continued on 1986s Inside Story; with production chores handled by Chics Nile Rodgers, the album spawned one of Jones last successful singles, Im Not Perfect (But Im Perfect for You). After 1989s Bulletproof Heart, Jones seemed to turn her back on her recording career (although 1993 saw the release of a new single, Sex Drive), as she again focused primarily on movies, including a role in Eddie Murphys hit 1992 comedy Boomerang. The double-disc set Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions (a collection of 26 tracks that Jones recorded with Sly & Robbie during their early 80s union) was released in 1998, which was followed up four years later with Island Life, Vol. 2.